We’ve come to know Volkswagen as the more affordable Audi, but that isn’t the case when it comes to the Arteon. For decades Volkswagen has established itself as a reliable and affordable brand that provides as much as it can within the price range. It’s done this well, but the brand could be making a turn for the better as it works to step out from Audi’s shadow, and the Arteon is enough to help to give the brand the recognition as a luxury car manufacturer that it deserves — without blowing your budget.

The Arteon luxury sedan

The Volkswagen Arteon comes with the buyer-friendly sticker price we’ve come to love from the brand. The starting price for buying one brand-new is $35,995, and you aren’t making a bunch of sacrifices for a reasonable price. Even from the first appearance, the Arteon demands attention. Inside and out, this sedan is more than your average commuter car.

The wide grille dominates the aggressive front fascia and is only enhanced by the LED strips in the well-detailed headlights. The large wheels enhance the body lines of the car and form a dominating feature that says, “I offer performance and style” — and it makes us reflect on a time when hubcaps were standard, and boy are we grateful they have been dying out. The next notable feature of the car is the smooth roofline that flows down the back of the car, ditching the outdated boxy style of older four-door sedans.

A force to be reckoned with

The Arteon is more than just its good looks. It’s got enough space to be a practical family car or comfortable commuter. Even better, it offers reasonable gas mileage for its performance, with a reported average of 36mpg on the highway and 24mpg overall. Combing fuel efficiency with high reliability scores and you have the basics of a good sedan — but the Arteon takes it further.

If you weren’t impressed with the styling of the Arteon, you wouldn’t be disappointed with the driving experience. A comfortable yet sporty suspension keeps the car centered while handling bumps and dips in the road with ease. You can expect a snappy acceleration, as fast as going from 0 – 60mph in 7.9 seconds, and the steering and gas pedal is responsive. What’s the only thing the Arteon is missing? Not an all-wheel-drive option. You can get this attractive sedan with standard front-wheel drive or upgrade to all-wheel drive for extra torque and additional handling in less-than-ideal driving conditions.

As we end the summer and manufacturers begin to release most of their 2021 model years to the dealership lots, the cost of new 2020 model years will likely decrease for the Arteon, making it an even better and more affordable option to get into a high-quality luxury sedan. If this year’s model is any indication, then the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon will be a forced to be reckoned with as well.